Hutton-style matchup: sabre vs. sword and buckler

[Thearos]

Reading the thread on s. and b. traditions (I.33, Bolognese), I remember the appendix to Hutton, The Swordsman (cheap edition): "How to fight against an uncivilized opponent"-- which Mr Admin refers to often in this forum. The uncivilized opponent is, basically, an Afridi tribesman, with sword and buckler: does not lunge, but darts in and out, circles, or rushes. Hutton says this is like fighting a sword and buckler man of the Elizabethan period (of Silver's time, he says)-- and that the answer is to fight as in Silver, with grapples (mostly grabbing the opponenent's sword wrist with your left wrist, and applying the "pummel",or pulling back the right shoulder for a stab, or applying a slice with the false edge, "the terrible coup de Jarnac"). Nowhere is there any mention of the risk of a shield strike, so I assume Afridi didn't go in for that.

I know assymetric match-ups are popular (rapier vs longsword, bokken vs poleaxe etc)-- but this is one I've never seen. Has anyone tried it ?

[edited for spelling]

[Andreas Engström]

Yep, been doing that some. As the sabreur I was relatively successful keeping my distance (mot allowing my sword to be trapped by the buckler), attacking tha sword-arm when it became exposed and occasionally landing some nice vertical attacks to the head or even back of the head by sliding the hand down the grip allowing the cut to snap over the attempt at blocking it.

-Andreas

[Magnus Hagelberg]

As having been on the receiving end of Andreas, I can second that it's not an easy play. The sabres' reach and mobility gives it ample play room against the bucklerist. The curvature of the Sabre also giving it a nice option to curve around the buckle. Baskets are such a great improvement that I often wonder why it took so loong to achieve them ?
It's possible that if you where to use a buckler with hooks, the play would be more even. But as it was it was 7-8 to the sabre out of 10 exchanges.

[admin]

Like Andreas said, yes I have sparred a fair amount against sword and buckler whilst using a backsword or sabre. I agree with Hutton - in principle the sword and buckler man has an advantage of two weapons, but then you have to remind yourself that your left hand can be a weapon (bucklers are pretty easy to grab actually), so the logical thing to do is to apply grabs to the sword and buckler man whenever possible. When you aren't grabbing them you should be keeping distance and sniping IMO. One of the advantages of having a weapon only in one hand is that you can turn your body almost sideways, making you a narrower target and increasing your reach. The sword and buckler man in contrast, if he wants to use both weapons, has to stand much more square-on, giving more body targets.

[Thearos]

Must try this. Nylon baskethilt vs. buckler and nylon single handed waster.

[Andreas Engström]

Must try this. Nylon baskethilt vs. buckler and nylon single handed waster.

Do try, it's fun And I agree with Matt that grappling and using your offhand is usually also a good option. It's just that I usually do this combination against Magnus and I'm a bit wary of going corps-a-corps with him since he's a better wrestler than me

-Andreas